Planning your wedding | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/money/planning-your-wedding
Latest news and features from theguardian.com, the world's leading liberal voiceen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015Tue, 03 Mar 2015 21:35:36 GMT2015-03-03T21:35:36Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015The Guardianhttp://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttp://www.theguardian.com
Thank you wedding industry for sapping the joy out of getting married | Daisy Buchananhttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/14/wedding-industry-saps-joy-getting-married
It’s definitely ‘for poorer’ once all the organisers have taken their cut. Even if you don’t get the giant mongoose of your dreams<p>It’s breaking my heart, and my bank balance. The wedding of my dreams is out of reach. When my boyfriend proposed this summer, I knew exactly how I wanted us to pledge our troth: a trip to the registry office, and then a drink in the pub with all of our favourite people. There would be dancing. There would be chips. How hard could it be?</p><p>Well, so far it’s cost me &pound;500 – not a large sum, post-Clooney and Alamuddin, but a month’s rent all the same – and I have yet to procure any food, booze, rings, clothes, entertainment or celebrants. I just put down a deposit on a fairly modest venue, because the going-to-the-pub plan turned out, in practice, to be as easy as procuring diamond confetti, or making and serving 9,000 lobster vol-au-vents, or attempting to ride down the aisle on a giant mongoose. If we want to have everyone we love in the same room, toasting us and dancing to Toto’s Africa, we either wait for the pub that will accommodate us all to be built, or we have a “Big Wedding”.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/14/wedding-industry-saps-joy-getting-married">Continue reading...</a>WeddingsPlanning your weddingLife and styleMoneyConsumer affairsFamily financesWorld newsTue, 14 Oct 2014 08:00:21 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/14/wedding-industry-saps-joy-getting-marriedPhotograph: Tetra Images/Alamy'When you’re organising a party for more than 100 people and you’re too tired to say no, it can feel like it’s easier to just keep handing your credit card over.' Photograph: Tetra Images/AlamyPhotograph: Tetra Images/Alamy'When you’re organising a party for more than 100 people and you’re too tired to say no, it can feel like it’s easier to just keep handing your credit card over.' Photograph: Tetra Images/AlamyDaisy Buchanan2014-10-14T08:00:21ZMarrying couples increasingly wrap requests for money in bad poetryhttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jul/26/marriage-couples-wedding-bash-poetry-cash
Do come to our wedding bash – please show your love in cheques or cash<p>The traditional wedding list, which invites guests to buy selected household gifts such as china or linen at a certain department store, is no more. Couples today have more straightforward demands: hard cash. And those who feel awkward asking for it are increasingly using verse to do it for them.</p><p>Nearly four-fifths of couples marrying this year will be asking for a financial contribution, according to a recent survey of 2,500 couples by wedding website <a href="http://www.confetti.co.uk/wedding-ceremonies/traditions-customs/invitation-etiquette-how-to-ask-for-gift-of-cash/" title="">confetti.co.uk</a>. As Kate Thompson, the site's features writer, pointed out, the traditional &quot;home start&quot; gift list is irrelevant for most couples because they have lived together for years and already have a toaster, kettle and microwave.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jul/26/marriage-couples-wedding-bash-poetry-cash">Continue reading...</a>WeddingsMarriageLife and stylePlanning your weddingMoneySat, 26 Jul 2014 22:30:57 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jul/26/marriage-couples-wedding-bash-poetry-cashHulton ArchiveIn many cultures it's traditional for the bride and groom to be given cash. Photograph: Hulton ArchiveHulton ArchiveIn many cultures it's traditional for the bride and groom to be given cash. Photograph: Hulton ArchiveAnna McKie2014-07-26T22:30:57ZDisabled weddings: how to plan an accessible dayhttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/17/disabled-weddings-plan-accessible-day
Wedding planning can be stressful, and when the bride or groom uses a wheelchair it is even more of a challenge. Carrie-Ann Fleming offers tips on everything from the venue and the dress to the flowers and the first dance<p>In November 2009, my boyfriend Darren surprised me with a romantic proposal over a candlelit dinner. I was ecstatic. But after the celebrations came the questions – when, where and how were we going to get married? As a wheelchair user, I didn't know where to start with all the preparations. How exactly do you plan an accessible wedding?</p><p>We are, of course, not alone in facing this dilemma. Aside from disabled brides and grooms, accessibility is an issue for many couples who need to consider an older or disabled friend or relative. It therefore came as a big surprise how few wedding venues have properly thought through the service that they offer for disabled customers and wedding-goers. </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/17/disabled-weddings-plan-accessible-day">Continue reading...</a>WeddingsRelationshipsLife and styleDisabilityPlanning your weddingFri, 17 Feb 2012 11:25:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/17/disabled-weddings-plan-accessible-dayTetra Images/AlamySweeping staircases may be great for your photos, but not for brides, grooms or guests with disabilities. Photograph: Tetra Images/AlamyTetra Images/AlamyBride and groom holding hands on steps. Photograph: Tetra Images/AlamyCarrie-Ann Fleming2012-02-17T11:25:00ZFive unromantic Valentine's moves before you proposehttp://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/feb/10/valentines-propose
Before you get married, some tough, practical questions should be asked, says Rebecca Smithers<p>It's a leap year and, with Valentine's Day looming, love is most definitely in the air. Those in the full flush of romance may be thinking of popping the question. Unlike cohabitees, spouses get certain rights – such as to pensions – but in many other areas of finance the situation is not so clear.</p><p>So before you get down on bended knee think about the key unromantic questions you should be asking. As Susan Midha, partner with solicitors Adams &amp; Remers, says: &quot;Many people find it difficult to talk about plans for having children, and issues around money, before they get together. But differences in these areas are a significant cause of marital breakdown.&quot;</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/feb/10/valentines-propose">Continue reading...</a>Planning your weddingPensionsWriting a willConsumer affairsMoneyValentine's DayMarriageLife and stylePrenupsLawFri, 10 Feb 2012 22:58:05 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/feb/10/valentines-proposeOcean/CorbisIt's good to get a few unromantic basics sorted before it's too late. Photograph: Ocean/CorbisOcean/CorbisIt's good to get a few unromantic basics sorted before it's too late. Photograph: Ocean/CorbisRebecca Smithers2012-02-10T22:58:05ZPlanning a wedding? Don't waste your moneyhttp://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2011/oct/05/planning-wedding-waste-money
A survey asking older people for financial tips advises against having too many children, an expensive wedding day, and bad shopping habits<p>It may be the biggest day of your life … but it's also the biggest waste of money, according to a survey of older people whose top piece of advice to the younger generation is not to blow thousands of pounds on a wedding.</p><p></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2011/oct/05/planning-wedding-waste-money">Continue reading...</a>Family financesPlanning your weddingConsumer affairsMoneyWeddingsLife and styleWed, 05 Oct 2011 06:00:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2011/oct/05/planning-wedding-waste-moneyTom Jenkins/Tom JenkinsWeddings are the biggest waste of money – so says a survey of older people asked to give advice to younger generations. Photograph: Tom JenkinsTom Jenkins/Tom JenkinsWeddings are the biggesty waste of money – so says a survey of older people asked to give advice to younger generations Photograph: Tom JenkinsPatrick Collinson2011-10-05T06:00:01ZSave money on wedding dresses without sacrificing stylehttp://www.theguardian.com/money/2011/apr/23/save-money-wedding-dress
Brides-to-be are increasingly looking to spend less on the dress as the average cost of a wedding tops £20,000<p>While the origins of Kate Middleton's wedding dress are shrouded in mystery, it's unlikely she bought it from a charity shop, Chinese factory outlet or bargain bucket sale.</p><p>Yet, according to experts, increasing numbers are spurning the traditional expensive dress. Instead, brides are turning to cut-price alternatives or DIY&nbsp;in the quest for a perfect look for their big day.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/money/2011/apr/23/save-money-wedding-dress">Continue reading...</a>Planning your weddingSaving moneyConsumer affairsMoneyWeddingsLife and styleFri, 22 Apr 2011 23:01:06 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/2011/apr/23/save-money-wedding-dressPRDesigner discount: dresses at Oxfam’s specialist bridal shop in SouthamptonPRDesigner discount: dresses at Oxfam's specialist bridal shop in SouthamptonRuth Lythe2011-04-22T23:01:06ZWedding gifts? We take cash and chequeshttp://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2011/apr/20/wedding-gifts-cash
The traditional wedding list is being usurped: the royal wedding might be opting for charitable donations, but its cold hard cash that is catching the eye of many betrothed couples<p>A survey by First Direct shows that more than a third of engaged couples (35%) opt for hard cash over traditional wedding presents, with just 3% following William and Kate's example by asking for money to be donated to charity. Just under a quarter (22%) choose to register a wedding list, a fifth ask for a gift of the guest's choosing, and a generous 19% do not ask for anything.</p><p></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2011/apr/20/wedding-gifts-cash">Continue reading...</a>Planning your weddingConsumer affairsMoneyWeddingsMarriageLife and styleWed, 20 Apr 2011 09:20:12 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2011/apr/20/wedding-gifts-cashStockbyte/GettyCouple of quid: cash gifts now account for more than 30% of wedding lists. Photograph: Stockbyte/GettyStockbyte/GettyWedding gifts? We take cash and cheques Photograph: Stockbyte/GettyCarri-Ann Taylor2011-04-20T09:20:12ZResponse: Don't blame the wedding industry. It's not wrong to celebrate in stylehttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/aug/25/wedding-industry-celebrate-in-style
Modern couples are serious about their vows – they just want more control over their big day<p>Rebecca Mead says she agrees with the Rev Dr Giles Fraser, who <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/thought/documents/t20100804.shtml" title="">claimed on Radio&nbsp;4's Thought for The Day</a> that weddings have become &quot;overblown, narcissistic productions&quot; and that such ceremonies have &quot;become a threat to marriage itself&quot; (<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/07/weddings-industry-commercial-giles-fraser" title="">Princess for a day</a>, 7&nbsp;August).</p><p>Mead uses Chelsea Clinton as an example to back up her argument. However, I thought Chelsea looked beautiful: she's the ex-US president's daughter, so of course her wedding was going to be over the top! Yes, some brides do put themselves under undue pressure to look their best, to have the most talked-about wedding, to have the most expensive venue. But when that same bride has a baby, or moves house, she'll be equally obsessive about which buggy brand to buy, or which kitchen to have fitted.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/aug/25/wedding-industry-celebrate-in-style">Continue reading...</a>WeddingsMarriageRelationshipsLife and stylePlanning your weddingMoneyTue, 24 Aug 2010 23:05:10 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/aug/25/wedding-industry-celebrate-in-styleDeborah Joseph2010-08-24T23:05:10ZPrincess for a dayhttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/07/weddings-industry-commercial-giles-fraser
Modern weddings have become overblown and narcissistic according to Rev Dr Giles Fraser. But are brides to blame or the industry that has turned getting married into a mega shopping trip?<p>When the Rev Dr Giles Fraser, the canon chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, delivered himself the other day of the opinion that modern weddings have become overblown, narcissistic productions – &quot;I'd even say they were becoming a threat to marriage itself,&quot; he said, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00t6dzn/Today_04_08_2010/" title="speaking on Radio 4">speaking on Radio 4</a>'s Thought for the Day – his words were, to me, not at all unfamiliar. I spent three years researching the American wedding industry for a book I wrote a few years ago, and during that time I discovered that clergymen and clergywomen could often be vocal critics of the brides and grooms whose unions they were sanctifying. Jody Vickery, a minister in Georgia, summed up the prevailing mood in an article in Christianity Today. &quot;I hate weddings,&quot; Vickery wrote. &quot;Funerals? I love them. At funerals people are shellshocked by the ultimate realities of life, death, grief, and God.&quot;</p><p>According to both ministers, self-centred brides are to blame for the state of modern weddings – events that Vickery calls &quot;narcissistic cleavage conventions&quot;. And bridal mania – the belief on the part of an engaged woman that the world revolves around her, her dress, and her floral-design choices – is unarguably a genuine phenomenon.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/07/weddings-industry-commercial-giles-fraser">Continue reading...</a>WeddingsLife and styleRelationshipsPlanning your weddingMoneyReligionFri, 06 Aug 2010 23:01:13 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/07/weddings-industry-commercial-giles-fraserJuice Images / Alamy/AlamyThe cost of the average wedding in the UK is estimated to be about £20,000. Photograph: Juice Images /AlamyJuice Images / Alamy/AlamyWeddings Photograph: Juice Images / Alamy/AlamyRebecca Mead2010-08-06T23:01:13ZThe secret diary of the father of the bridehttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/sep/04/father-of-the-bride
Organising a wedding can be stressful for the happy couple, but what about the father of the bride? Philip Robinson, who took his fatherly duties very seriously, reveals a netherworld of obsessive speech-writing, incessant shopping and Facebook fights<p><strong>3 August: </strong>Our daughter Anna rang to say Colin, her boyfriend, had proposed by writing &quot;Will you marry me?&quot; in the sand, and she had accepted. Colin argued that he had written &quot;Will you carry me&quot;, but she had photographic evidence. The wedding will be held next August in Sorrento, Italy.</p><p><strong>4 August: </strong>Feeling like Steve Martin in the Father of the Bride movie, I began to write my speech. </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/sep/04/father-of-the-bride">Continue reading...</a>WeddingsFamilyLife and stylePlanning your weddingFri, 04 Sep 2009 09:30:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/sep/04/father-of-the-bridePhilip RobinsonPhilip Robinson in father of the bride pose with his daughter Anna.Philip RobinsonPhilip Robinson and his daughter Anna. Photograph: Philip RobinsonPhilip Robinson2009-09-04T09:30:00ZWhy prenuptial agreements may be a smart option for womenhttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/sep/01/prenuptial-agreements-women
More women than ever are instigating prenuptial agreements to protect their assets. Is romance dead, asks Colin Gentry, or is this a sensible response to the recession?<p>&quot;That is the problem with us women: we follow our hearts,&quot; says screenwriter Tricia Walsh-Smith. &quot;We're all into the love and happy-ever-after, and it's rubbish.&quot; As the wronged British socialite who famously took revenge on her husband by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx_WKxqQF2o">humiliating him on Youtube</a> last year, it's easy to imagine why Walsh-Smith may not be love's greatest advocate. However, her bitter tale - a divorce that left her with a $45,000 credit card bill, huge legal costs and eviction from her apartment - is not so far removed from that of countless other women who have found themselves falling out of favour and out of pocket. </p><p>Heartbreak can be costly. A recent survey by Scottish Widows found that one in seven people in Britain would consider marrying purely for money, while the number of men making claims on their wives' wealth in divorce has doubled since last year. According to the Office of National Statistics, one in 10 marriages now end in divorce within five years, and wary women are drawing up contracts to ensure their assets are still alive and kicking long after the romance is dead. </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/sep/01/prenuptial-agreements-women">Continue reading...</a>MarriageDivorceRelationshipsWomenLife and styleMoneyLawUK newsPlanning your weddingDivorceFamily financesPrenupsTue, 01 Sep 2009 09:16:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/sep/01/prenuptial-agreements-womenWin Mcnamee/ReutersBritney Spears performing in a wedding dress. The singer paid just $1m to her former husband thanks to a prenuptial agreement. Photograph: Win Mcnamee/ReutersWin Mcnamee/ReutersBritney Spears in a wedding dress. Photograph: Win Mcnamee/ReutersColin Gentry2009-09-01T09:16:00ZHave wedding presents been credit crunched?http://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2009/aug/28/wedding-present-costs
A survey suggests wedding guests are spending less on presents, but John Lewis says couples are choosing pricier gifts. What's your experience, asks Huma Qureshi<p>Wedding guests, breathe a sigh of relief. It's nearly the end of August, which means the wedding season is almost over. Which also means you can rest your wallet a little bit.</p><p>Much as you might love a good wedding and being part of a friend or family member's special day, sometimes you can't help but subconsciously tally up how much all of it might have cost you. Especially if it's been a fancy affair for which you've travelled from afar and arranged overnight accommodation, bought a new outfit, a present and been on a hen or stag do.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2009/aug/28/wedding-present-costs">Continue reading...</a>Saving moneyPlanning your weddingMoneyWeddingsConsumer affairsLife and styleFri, 28 Aug 2009 13:42:05 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2009/aug/28/wedding-present-costsMartin Poole/Getty ImagesThe wedding season is coming to an end. Photograph: Martin Poole/Getty ImagesMartin Poole/Getty ImagesWedding cake decorated with bride and groom figures on table by gifts. Photograph: Martin Poole/Getty ImagesHuma Qureshi2009-08-28T13:42:05ZPremier Inn offers newlyweds a 'moneymoon'http://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2009/aug/21/premier-inn-honeymoon-offer
You can now honeymoon at the hotel chain for £58. But is this a bargain too far, asks Rebecca Smithers<p>We've had the <a href="http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/world/384485/bride-buys-99p-wedding-dress-on-ebay.html" title="Bride buys 99p wedding dress on eBay">99p eBay wedding dress</a> and the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1176888/Holiday-Inn-offers-credit-crunch-wedding-package-just-999.html" title="Holiday Inn offers credit-crunch wedding package for just &pound;999">&pound;999 credit crunch reception</a>. And now Britain's biggest hotel chain has launched what it says will give cash-strapped couples an affordable getaway after their big day.</p><p>Premier Inn is offering a &pound;58 &quot;moneymoon&quot; deal, which includes a two-night stay with dinner, an all-you-can-eat breakfast and a hamper of goodies. A night at the Ritz it isn't; and a night at a Premier Inn, tucked away behind a station car park, might not be your chosen venue to start married life.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2009/aug/21/premier-inn-honeymoon-offer">Continue reading...</a>Planning your weddingConsumer affairsMoneyWedding, honeymoon and stag tripsWeddingsLife and styleTravelFri, 21 Aug 2009 11:29:20 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2009/aug/21/premier-inn-honeymoon-offerPRA honeymoon couple on a 'moneymoon' at a Premier Inn. Photograph: PRPRA honeymoon couple at a Premier Inn. Photograph: PRRebecca Smithers2009-08-21T11:29:20ZWedding day dos and don'tshttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2009/jul/06/how-not-to-plan-a-wedding
The champagne corks have popped, the diamond is sparkling on the third finger of your left hand, and your future spouse has dusted off his knees and breathed a sigh of relief. Now all you have to do prepare for the wedding itself, so that the happiest day of your life doesn't become the most stressful day of your life. <br /><br />I'm getting hitched next May. So when Living TV invited me along to a Bridal Bootcamp in celebration of their new series, Four Weddings - a kind of Come Dine With Me set-up but with meringues for dresses rather than dessert - I rejoiced at the prospect of picking up some tips. <br /><br />With experts on hand from Strictly Come Dancing and, erm, Interflora, I tried to find out how to make the big day go without a hitch. Here, then, is what I learned: the essential dos and don'ts of the big day.<br /><strong>Rachel Holmes</strong><br /> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2009/jul/06/how-not-to-plan-a-wedding">Continue reading...</a>WeddingsRelationshipsLife and styleBeautyFashionPlanning your weddingMoneyDresses for weddingsMon, 06 Jul 2009 10:36:36 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2009/jul/06/how-not-to-plan-a-wedding/Adam LawrenceRachel Holmes holds a bouquet. Photograph: Adam LawrenceRachel Holmes2009-07-06T10:36:36ZSave money on your weddinghttp://www.theguardian.com/money/2009/jun/13/save-money-on-weddings
If you don't fancy splashing out the £15,000-plus that the average wedding costs, check out our tips to see how you can save thousands of pounds on the big day.<p>The obvious way to cut costs is to marry at the local register office with the bare minimum of guests, followed by a bring-a-bottle knees-up at your place where everyone chips in for a takeaway. But if, like most people, you want a more traditional bash without having to shell out the &pound;15,000-plus the average UK wedding costs, you'll need to plan and use some ingenuity.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/money/2009/jun/13/save-money-on-weddings">Continue reading...</a>Saving moneyPlanning your weddingWeddingsMoneyLife and styleFri, 12 Jun 2009 23:05:06 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/2009/jun/13/save-money-on-weddingsGettyWedding planning: Heed the golden the rule and stick to your budget. Photograph: GettyGettyJill Papworth2009-06-12T23:05:06ZAllegra McEvedy: You don't have to endure fruit cake on your wedding dayhttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/apr/22/allegra-mcevedy-wedding-cakes-cheese
You don't have to endure fruit cake on your wedding day, says Allegra McEvedy. These days anything goes - from ice-cream and jelly to pork pies and cheese<br /><br /><a href="http://www.guprod.gnl/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2009/apr/22/wedding-cake-cupcake">Blog: Are weddings cupcakes a half-baked idea?</a><p>I have done the catering for more than a hundred weddings over the years, but when it comes to the ceremonial cake I have to admit to sidestepping the issue and sending the bride and groom off to consult the specialists. This is partly because I could never see why anyone would spend a fortune on a giant fruit cake shrouded in royal icing, but most crucially because I find it hard to put love and care into creating something when only a fraction of it will ever get eaten, the majority destined to be wrapped in a napkin and stuffed into handbags or trodden into the dancefloor.</p><p>When my wife Susi - a former caterer - and I had the tables turned on us and we found ourselves planning our own wedding, we knew that a traditional cake was not an option. We wanted proper pudding followed by cheese and plenty of it. A wedding cake too would have felt like overkill. Then, during what can only be described as a drunken brainstorming session, Susi and I found ourselves uttering the words cheese and cake so frequently that we ended up slurring them into &quot;cheesecake&quot;.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/apr/22/allegra-mcevedy-wedding-cakes-cheese">Continue reading...</a>Food & drinkLife and stylePlanning your weddingMoneyWeddingsTue, 21 Apr 2009 23:01:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/apr/22/allegra-mcevedy-wedding-cakes-cheeseGuardianSusi (left) and Allegra cut their cheeses with a wire. Photograph: GuardianGuardianSusi (left) and Allegra cut their cheeses with a wire &#10; Photograph: GuardianAllegra McEvedy2009-04-21T23:01:00ZHuma Qureshi: Rising costs of traditional ceremonies are leading many to consider holding their receptions st homehttp://www.theguardian.com/money/2009/mar/22/relationships
Rising costs of traditional ceremonies are leading many to consider holding their receptions in the house they grew up in - but there is a price to pay in terms of stress and hard work, reports Huma Qureshi<p>Getting married in the house where you grew up is the stuff of many brides' dreams - but for some that romantic ideal could also save them a lot of money. </p><p>With the average cost of a wedding now running at more than &pound;20,000, it is no wonder that in these straitened times many couples are planning to make their budget go further by hosting the reception at home. &quot;Having the reception at home is something more people are thinking about,&quot; says Colette Harris, editor of the magazine You and Your Wedding. &quot;But you might have to restrict the numbers of guests and be prepared to take on a massive organisational task - and all the stress that can go with it.&quot; </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/money/2009/mar/22/relationships">Continue reading...</a>Planning your weddingMoneyRelationshipsLife and styleConsumer affairsWeddingsSun, 22 Mar 2009 00:01:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/2009/mar/22/relationshipsHuma Qureshi2009-03-22T00:01:00ZCut the cost of your wedding receptionhttp://www.theguardian.com/money/2009/feb/18/negotiator-wedding-reception-saving
Marc Lockley is <strong>the Negotiator</strong>. This week he looks for the big saving that will help newlyweds get their marriage off to the best possible start<p>Your wedding should be the most memorable day of your life, but at an average cost in excess of &pound;20,000 you want to be sure you won't be remembering it for all the wrong reasons. The reception alone is likely to account for more than half your budget, but with some canny negotiating you can significantly reduce this cost. And you needn't skimp on quality. In fact, with the money you save, you could make the whole affair all the more lavish by going the extra mile with your honeymoon. So, where do you start?</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/money/2009/feb/18/negotiator-wedding-reception-saving">Continue reading...</a>Planning your weddingFamily financesConsumer affairsSaving moneyLife and styleRelationshipsMoneyWeddingsWed, 18 Feb 2009 14:52:21 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/2009/feb/18/negotiator-wedding-reception-savingMartin Poole/Getty ImagesWeddings: Set your budget before you begin, and don't be tempted to waver. Photograph: Martin Poole/Getty ImagesMartin Poole/Getty ImagesWedding cake decorated with bride and groom figures on table by gifts. Photograph: Martin Poole/Getty ImagesMarc Lockley2009-02-18T14:52:21ZI don't: Marriage rates crash to all-time lowhttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/feb/12/marriage-wedding-rates-fall
Credit crunch and high cost of divorce take toll on weddings in England and Wales<p>Tax breaks for married couples have been all but abolished, divorce settlements are higher than ever and the average wedding costs a wallet-battering &pound;20,000 – so it is perhaps no surprise that fewer people are marrying than ever before in England and Wales, according to figures released today by the government.</p><p>Statistics from the Office for National Statistics show that marriage rates are the lowest since records began, and that people are waiting longer before walking down the aisle – the average groom is almost 37 years old and his bride nearly 34.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/feb/12/marriage-wedding-rates-fall">Continue reading...</a>UK newsCredit crunchRelationshipsLife and styleSocial trendsSocietyMoneyFamily financesTaxDivorcePlanning your weddingMarriageDivorceThu, 12 Feb 2009 12:54:04 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/feb/12/marriage-wedding-rates-fallMike Kemp/GettyMarriage rates have plunged to the lowest level since 1865. Photograph: Mike Kemp/Getty ImagesRexPhotograph: Dinodia / Stock Connection / RexHelen Pidd2009-02-12T12:54:04ZPersonal effects: Readers' advice on how to pay for a weddinghttp://www.theguardian.com/money/2009/feb/07/planningyourwedding-familyfinance
My son and his girlfriend are getting married. The bride's father is very proud, but in no position to pay for it. The reception is to be in a pub, yet I would happily pay for a gigantic party. How do I pull it off without upsetting everyone?<p>• It's for your son and his fianc&eacute;e to decide where they hold the reception, not you - not everyone enjoys big formal reception dinners. If you're serious about just wanting to help out financially and not trying to force your own agenda on the proceedings, then hand over a no-strings cheque and let them spend it how they will. We had our wedding reception in a pub last year and it was fantastic, much better than the arranged seating and lukewarm mass-catered food that is a feature of most organised wedding parties.<br /><strong>Susi Quinn, </strong>Shoreham, W. Sussex</p><p>• Hopefully, your son will only get married once - but the amount of money spent on his wedding breakfast certainly won't be a deciding factor. Nobody on a budget will thank you for inviting them to drive miles to some pretentious location and pay &pound;4 a drink. Offer to pay 50% of the cost of the do to the bride's father, let your hair down and have a great time celebrating. If you can really afford to help financially, help them to train to get a better future job, assist with a house deposit or simply bank your cash until the grandchildren arrive.<br /><strong>Dave Thomas,</strong> Merseyside</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/money/2009/feb/07/planningyourwedding-familyfinance">Continue reading...</a>MoneyPlanning your weddingFamily financesWeddingsSat, 07 Feb 2009 00:01:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/2009/feb/07/planningyourwedding-familyfinanceGuardian Staff2009-02-07T00:01:00Z